[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5780-S5781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 1096. A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
portions of the Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey as a 
component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today, along with Senator Lautenberg, I 
am introducing legislation, the Musconetcong Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act, to designate portions of the Musconetcong River in New Jersey as a 
component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. I am proud to 
be joining my New Jersey colleague, Representative Scott Garrett, who 
has introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives, with 
the support of Congressmen Robert Andrews, Michael Ferguson, Rodney 
Frelinghuysen, Robert Menendez, Frank Pallone, Donald Payne and James 
Saxton.
  This is important legislation to help preserve and protect one of the 
most valuable natural resources in the State of New Jersey. The 
Musconetcong River is a 43 mile river that runs westward from Lake 
Musconetcong to the Delaware River. It provides many ecological, 
recreational and scenic benefits to the northwestern portion of our 
State. In addition, it is also home to a number of archeological sites 
and other historic areas, including one site in Warren County where 
scientists have discovered stone knives and other weapons dating back 
at least ten thousand years. Finally, it feeds acquifers that provide 
many residents in Hunterdon and Warren counties with quality drinking 
water.
  Unfortunately, the beauty and value that the Musconetcong provides is 
at risk. The river faces pressures, for example, from the development 
that is occurring on or near its shores. This has caused water quality 
to deteriorate from increased levels of bacteria, silt and runoff from 
roadways. Further, many of the municipalities that lie along the river 
lack the financial resources to adequately protect the river for future 
generations.
  The Musconetcong Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would help state, county 
and local officials begin to address these concerns, working alongside 
environmental and public interest groups. By including this river in 
the Wild and Scenic River System, it would allow New Jersey to 
implement a management plan for the river that has the support of three 
counties and 13 municipalities. In addition it would make the river 
eligible for financial, planning, and technical assistance to help 
preserve and protect it. The goal is to encourage uses and development 
that is compatible with the river.
  The Wild and Scenic River System already includes the Maurice and 
Great Egg Harbor Rivers in New Jersey as well as the lower and middle 
portions of the Delaware River
  I will work hard in the 109th Congress to see that the Musconetcong 
is added to this list. I hope my colleagues will support this 
legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1096

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Musconetcong Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation and 
     consultation with appropriate Federal, State, regional, and 
     local agencies, is conducting a study of the eligibility and 
     suitability of the Musconetcong River in the State of New 
     Jersey for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
       (2) the Musconetcong Wild and Scenic River Study Task 
     Force, with assistance from the National Park Service, has 
     prepared a river management plan for the study area entitled 
     ``Musconetcong River Management Plan'' and dated April 2002 
     that establishes goals and actions to ensure long-term 
     protection of the outstanding values of the river and 
     compatible management of land and water resources associated 
     with the Musconetcong River; and
       (3) 13 municipalities and 3 counties along segments of the 
     Musconetcong River that are eligible for designation have 
     passed resolutions in which the municipalities and counties--
       (A) express support for the Musconetcong River Management 
     Plan;
       (B) agree to take action to implement the goals of the 
     management plan; and
       (C) endorse designation of the Musconetcong River as a 
     component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Additional river segment.--The term ``additional river 
     segment'' means the approximately 4.3-mile Musconetcong River 
     segment designated as ``C'' in the management plan, from 
     Hughesville Mill to the Delaware River Confluence.
       (2) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the river management plan prepared by the Musconetcong River 
     Management Committee, the National Park Service, the Heritage 
     Conservancy, and the Musconetcong Watershed Association 
     entitled ``Musconetcong River Management Plan'' and dated 
     April 2002 that establishes goals and actions to--
       (A) ensure long-term protection of the outstanding values 
     of the river segments; and
       (B) compatible management of land and water resources 
     associated with the river segments.
       (3) River segment.--The term ``river segment'' means any 
     segment of the Musconetcong River, New Jersey, designated as 
     a scenic river or recreational river by section 3(a)(167) of 
     the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (as added by section 4).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF PORTIONS OF MUSCONETCONG RIVER, NEW 
                   JERSEY, AS SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RIVERS.

       Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(167) Musconetcong river, new jersey.--
       ``(A) Designation.--The 24.2 miles of river segments in New 
     Jersey, consisting of--
       ``(i) the approximately 3.5-mile segment from Saxton Falls 
     to the Route 46 bridge, to be administered by the Secretary 
     of the Interior as a scenic river; and
       ``(ii) the approximately 20.7-mile segment from the Kings 
     Highway bridge to the railroad tunnels at Musconetcong Gorge, 
     to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a 
     recreational river.
       ``(B) Administration.--Notwithstanding section 10(c), the 
     river segments designated under subparagraph (A) shall not be 
     administered as part of the National Park System.''.

     SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT.

       (a) Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the river 
     segments in accordance with the management plan.
       (2) Satisfaction of requirements for plan.--The management 
     plan shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for a 
     comprehensive management plan for the river segments under 
     section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1274(d)).

[[Page S5781]]

       (3) Restrictions on water resource projects.--For purposes 
     of determining whether a proposed water resources project 
     would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for 
     which a river segment is designated as part of the Wild and 
     Scenic Rivers System under section 7(a) of the Wild and 
     Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1278(a)), the Secretary shall 
     consider the extent to which the proposed water resources 
     project is consistent with the management plan.
       (4) Implementation.--The Secretary may provide technical 
     assistance, staff support, and funding to assist in the 
     implementation of the management plan.
       (b) Cooperation.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the river 
     segments in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, 
     regional, and local agencies, including--
       (A) the Musconetcong River Management Committee;
       (B) the Musconetcong Watershed Association;
       (C) the Heritage Conservancy;
       (D) the National Park Service; and
       (E) the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
       (2) Cooperative agreements.--Any cooperative agreement 
     entered into under section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic 
     Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e)) relating to a river segment--
       (A) shall be consistent with the management plan; and
       (B) may include provisions for financial or other 
     assistance from the United States to facilitate the long-term 
     protection, conservation, and enhancement of the river 
     segment.
       (c) Land Management.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide planning, 
     financial, and technical assistance to local municipalities 
     and nonprofit organizations to assist in the implementation 
     of actions to protect the natural and historic resources of 
     the river segments.
       (2) Plan requirements.--After adoption of recommendations 
     made in section IV of the management plan, the zoning 
     ordinances of the municipalities bordering the segments shall 
     be considered to satisfy the standards and requirements under 
     section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1277(c)).
       (d) Designation of Additional River Segment.--
       (1) Finding.--Congress finds that the additional river 
     segment is suitable for designation as a recreational river 
     if the Secretary determines that there is adequate local 
     support for the designation of the additional river segment 
     in accordance with paragraph (3).
       (2) Designation and administration.--If the Secretary 
     determines that there is adequate local support for 
     designating the additional river segment as a recreational 
     river--
       (A) the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register 
     notice of the designation of the segment;
       (B) the segment shall be designated as a recreational river 
     in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1271 et seq.); and
       (C) the Secretary shall administer the additional river 
     segment as a recreational river.
       (3) Criteria for local support.--In determining whether 
     there is adequate local support for the designation of the 
     additional river segment, the Secretary shall consider the 
     preferences of local governments expressed in resolutions 
     concerning designation of the additional river segment.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
                                 ______